Babes Who Brunch: Medina Café

Hair of the Dog: Skipped the booze (hey, it was a Monday) for a lavender latte. A subtle floral flavour complements a shot of espresso and foamy milk.

What we ate: Marscarpone and Black Pepper Honey ($6) paired with the blistered wood stone flatbread ($4) to start.

The Fricassée: two sunny-side up eggs accompanied by melt-in-your-mouth braised short ribs, roasted potatoes, greens and applewood smoked cheddar served in a hot skillet and paired with grilled focaccia ($17); and the Saumon Fumé ($14): smoked wild salmon cream cheese on a grilled ciabatta with a poached egg opposite a green salad with sweet drop peppers and artichoke slices ($14).

For a brunch dessert, we tried the famous Medina Cafe leige-style waffles ($3.15 each) with all the toppings ($1 each), including the Earnest cardomom ice cream ($2). Our favourite combinations were the yogurt and mixed berry compote, salted caramel paired with the cardomom ice cream, and the fig orange marmalade with dark chocolate.

What we loved: Tall, loft-style ceilings, warm lighting, and Mediterranean-inspired plates. Even on a Monday, Medina is buzzing with brunch-goers. As a testament to its famously long lines, we can tell you it’s worth the wait.

Follow everything about Medina Café at the hashtag #thenewmedina

Kristi Alexandra is an unabashed wino and wannabe musician. Her talents include drinking an entire bottle of cabernet sauvignon, singing in the bathtub, and falling asleep.

Brittany Tiplady is a part-time poet, and a full-time goat cheese enthusiast. She loves the indoors, fast wifi, collecting maps, and a generous glass of red wine.